Comments made by Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, a former gubernatorial aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, during his official declaration to contest the Osun West Senatorial seat, created a stir within the party, OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Ogunbiyi, in a viral video from last Friday in Iwo, claimed that President Bola Tinubu told the leaders of the APC that he does not expect a gubernatorial candidate from them.
In one of the video clips, the chairman of Mutual Benefits Assurance said President Tinubu told them during a meeting that he wanted one ‘Ademola’, whom many believed to be Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has the candidate for the August 15.
According to the former governorship aspirant, the President, during the meeting said he invited ‘Ademola’ because he believed he would make things easier for him.
Ogunbiyi, who spoke in Yoruba language in the video, said, “When we went to meet with President Bola Tinubu. The President told us that he does not expect a candidate from us in Osun that it was Ademola that he invited so that he can spend money and make things easier for him.
“The President, said ‘Gboyega, you are the one who said you don’t want it”, so how you will win the Osun election,” the short viral video ended.
OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that while some chieftains of the APC believed Ogunbiyi spoke the truth and only said what transpired at the presidential Villa without any harm, others were disappointed that the former PDP chieftain said such at a crucial time.
Sources who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER said the video really rattled the party leaders, adding that the party leadership will likely convene a meeting to address the issue and others to forestall future recurrence.
“The video took everyone by surprise. I know Dr Ogunbiyi does not mean any harm but we all know how sensitive this period is. Any small mistake, the opponent will capitalise. That is why we need to be extra careful now. The leadership of the party will convene a meeting to address the issue,” the APC chieftain who does not want his name in print told OSUN DEFENDER.
On whether the situation might cost Ogunbiyi who was rumoured to be the consensus candidate the Osun West senatorial ticket, the APC leader said he does not expect things to change because of that.
“No, if he has been pencilled down as the consensus candidate of our party for Osun West, I don’t expect the video to change anything. As I said, he did not mean any harm and it would be an injustice to change the decision based on a one-minute video a few months before our gubernatorial election,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ogunbiyi has claimed that he was quoted out of context, adding that the video misrepresented his thought process and intended message.
In a statement signed by Engr Dare Ojo, the senatorial aspirant, said, “For the avoidance of doubt, this claim is entirely false. Dr Ogunbiyi was quoted completely out of context, and the circulated 30-second video grossly misrepresents his thought process and intended message.
“At the meeting with party leaders and stakeholders, Dr Ogunbiyi made a critical reference to the political horse-trading and development surrounding attempts by Governor Adeleke—who, by all indications, fears losing his re-election bid in the face of the reinvigorated efforts of the Osun APC—to gain entry into the APC through the backdoor.
“Dr Ogunbiyi explained how former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, alongside leaders of the Osun APC, led a delegation to President Tinubu to firmly assure him of the party’s strength and readiness to dislodge the incumbent administration.
“The Osun APC delegation not only demonstrated the party’s clear pathway to victory in the August 15 governorship election but also exposed how the Adeleke-led government has been undermining federal government initiatives and unfairly demonising the President among the Osun electorate.”
Also, the All Progressives Congress in Osun in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said the video was twisted, describing Ogunbiyi as one of the dependable chieftains of the party.
“We want to state here unequivocally that Dr, Ogunbiyi is one of our credible, trusted and dependable chieftains of our party who would never be a party to the advancement of any misfortune for our party in any form.
“The Ile-Ogbo-born insurance magnate-turned politician has been demonstrating this uncommon attribute of a virtuous team worker with the mission of improving the status of our party since the time he made up his mind to be in the progressive camp in the state.
“We don’t have any reason whatsoever to doubt the unconditional political commitment and unalloyed loyalty of Dr. Ogunbiyi, a Senatorial aspirant of our party in the West Senatorial District of the state, who has been giving its all for the upliftment of the party,” Olabisi stated.
Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
